Hockney's friends help the deaf

David Hockney, the artist who confesses to being mad about dogs, has donated a famous print of his canine best friends Stanley and Boodgie to a charity for deafness. Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, which trains dogs to alert a deaf person by touch and to guide them to a sound, contacted Hockney last year asking for his support, and he gave the charity permission to print 1,000 copies of the dachshund sketch.

Hockney himself is now almost completely deaf. Recent self-portraits show his face to be uncharacteristically glum, and in each an ear has been omitted. The prints are being sold for pounds 10; anyone interested in buying one should contact Heather Shute on 01993 831909 (evenings).